Well at 8:30 we already had quite the adventure. We woke up around 5 and ate breakfast and got ready. We were meeting the taxi at the gate at 6:10. We didn’t want to miss it. We were supposed to be catching a 6:48 train to Rome. Well, the taxi didnt show, we started walking down the road some but the house next door had like 30 dogs and chickens so it smelled and the dogs were barking like crazy. we walked back towards the house and just waited a bit. He never came so we went back to the house and then our next scare. We couldn’t get the key to open the door. Well it turns out, the lock has to be turned three times to remove all the bolts and then you have to hold it a half turn to open the last bolt. How confusing. Well we were back in the warm house so that was good. Lizzy used her data to call the taxi company and we told them the taxi never came. The guy said he was looking for the road but we couldn’t really understand each other that well. He hung up and so I used my data to look up a bus plan. We had to walk like 20 minutes and then catch a bus to the station. We could do it so we went for it. We started walking and then we met the taxi. He didn’t really speak English so we got in and he took us to the station. Mateo was on the phone with him so he talked to claire and apologized because he felt bad but it wasn’t his fault. The taxi driver just couldn’t find the road which to me is odd since he has google maps. Anyway we missed our 6:48 train but there was a 7:15 train too. We didn’t think we could make it but the taxi dude got us there real quick. We paid him and then got our train reservations. We didn’t think we’d make it but the train wasn’t there yet and there was a 5 min delay. The reservation guy was helpful too and he got us our tickets. We ran to our platform and made the train! Woo! We took that train to foligno. We didn’t need reservations for that one. But the conductor didn’t think we validated our Eurail passes because there wasn’t a stamp but we’ve been using them for three months and there was a printed box that said activated. He wasn’t rude or mean but he just didn’t understand they were activated. He just said to get them stamped at the next station. Well buddy we had a connection to make and we thought we’d be 5 minutes late so we didn’t really think we’d have time to make the train. Let me tell you though, the Lord has taken care of everything we need. He has always given us a backup plan and it’s always worked out. And it did this time too. Somehow we made it to the station on time. I don’t know how we made up our lost 10 minutes but alright haha. We made our next train and relaxed some. At least we were on the way to Rome. Whew. When we got to the train station in Rome, we found some free Wi-Fi so we sat and figured out everything we needed. Directions, taxis for Perugia, trains, etc. then we set off for the colosseum. It was probably a 20 minute walk or so. We were getting our first glimpse of Rome. It’s very crowded, the streets are windy and everywhere, there are cars and mopeds going everywhere and parked in every crevice, and there are lots of cheapo stores full of junk. It was an interesting combo but the buildings still hold that Italian charm. We finally turned down a street and there it was. The big ol colosseum. We took some pictures and then walked down next to it. We walked around it and tried to find a spot to eat lunch. There were a bunch of people selling selfie sticks and random trinkets again like at the Eiffel Tower. It’s a bit annoying. Also a lot of people asking us about buying tickets and stuff. We just normally ignore them and keep walking but it can be interesting to hear how some of them try to stop you. Like they’ll just start listing languages and when you smile they know that’s yours. Or they’ll compliment you to get you to stop. Anyway we found some rocks to sit on to eat. It turned out to be entertaining because this black car just sped right in by all the people and we just saw all the sellers scramble to hide. They like jumped up on walls and ran into the crowds. There was even a small stand off because one guy jumped on the wall but wasn’t going to leave and the guy in the car acted like he was going to jump out and get him. Eventually the guy on the wall ran off. The black car just kept circling trying to catch them because they didn’t stay away for but a minute or so. They didn’t seem concerned. Anyway we were getting a kick out of it. Also we had a lot of bird company. They really liked all the crumbs from our bread. Unfortunately seagulls got the memo and came in and they bother me more because they poop more and they did just that on Lizzy. I was paranoid about birds pooping on me so we left and got some more pictures of the colosseum and made our way to the Trevi fountain. More winding streets and cute buildings. We knew we hit the fountain because of the crowd of people. We jumped down next to the fountain and took our pictures and threw our coins in. It was so white. I don’t know how they keep it so clean and perfect. The water was also very clean and bright aqua. Surprisingly there were hardly any coins in it so they must have just emptied it. We tried to find some gelato that was recommended so we walked around until we found it. I got honey and apple and it was the perfect combo for a fall reminder. It tasted so fresh. We then walked to the pantheon next. We found it pretty quickly too. It’s kind of hard to miss the big attractions. We went inside and appreciated the large dome that ancient Romans built somehow. Pretty impressive. From the pantheon, we were going to take a metro to the Vatican City but there is like one metro line and we weren’t really close to it so we just walked. It was only like 30 minutes but it went by fast. We got there and then we had to find our entrance. We had Vatican museum tickets and Sistine chapel tickets. We walked around to the back and we were dumb and let this guy stop us and talk our ear off about upgrading our tickets because he was pretending to be official but we caught his act quickly and just said okay bye and left haha. We entered smoothly and used the toilets. We then started walking through. There were a lot of old artifacts, statues, painted halls, paintings, sculptures, etc. we saw Gaul and sons I think. A sculpture we learned about in OWH. It also inspired Michelangelo. It was pretty fascinating. We then walked into the Sistine chapel and woah. That was incredible. We couldn’t take pictures but he has some serious talent. I mean wow. That ceiling is just covered in details. And it all looks like it’s coming down at you. He knew what he was doing. I just can’t imagine painting every inch of that ceiling alone. His last judgment painting on the wall was also pretty cool. I’m glad we knew some history about his work. It gave it more meaning. we stood in there for some time and we snuck some pictures even though they kept yelling at everyone to not do that and to be quiet. But hey you only go to the Sistine chapel once. After that we tried to find some snacky food to eat before we get on the train back. We got McDonald’s so we could use some Wi-Fi and I got a sundae and wow that hit the spot. We walked to the metro and bought our one trip ticket. That metro ride was CRAZY. So packed. I’ve never been more crammed. We got off at termini and used their Wi-Fi to figure out stuff for Florence and then we found our platform and walked to it. It was forever away and took awhile to get to. We finally made it and got on our train to go back to Perugia. I took like an hour nap but the train was kind of loud and had an annoying yippy dog on it but it still gave me some energy to continue living. Abby pointed out that for three months we have just been telling ourselves we can sleep when we get home and that is catching up with us where we just can’t live anymore without sleeping so we better get home soon haha. That train ride seemed to take forever. I was ready to be back. We waited for a taxi to come up but there was a line so we had to wait a bit. They don’t have like an abundance of taxis. He took us right back to our house and he was very nice. He said, “they call me speedy Gonzales” lol. Anyway we got back to the house and I got first shower tonight so I got that out of the way and then Annah made some more noodles and sauce. It was a good dinner/late night snack. I got in my comfy couch bed and turned that heater on me and I was fading fast. Abby made some hard boiled eggs for the morning and then it was lights out. Another early morning tomorrow.

Fun facts: it has been nice riding in cars again. You really miss car rides when you have to take trains everywhere. That quiet dark ambiance of a car-ahhh. Rome was fun to see everything but it definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. It has been ultra modernized and just felt like any other city. I figured it’d still hold more of a historical feel but sadly it just seemed like the ancient things were out of place and that was kind of sad to me.

Shoutout. Special appreciation to abby to keep me from going off my rocker on trains and always gives me a reason to laugh either with her or at her;) but really your level headedness keeps me sane.